[CamperBob2]

I hear what you're saying, but I believe that anyone who condemns Snowden's crimes while saying nothing about those of Alexander and Clapper is ethically challenged at best. Snowden arguably betrayed his government, while Clapper and Alexander committed offenses of even greater magnitude against the American people. If Andreessen has a beef with anyone, it's with the latter two people.

I personally find it difficult to believe that Snowden's revelations weren't already old news to the influential foreign business and political leaders that are the target of Andreessen's concern trolling. Snowden's sin was bringing the knowledge down the mountain to the rest of us.

[lifeisstillgood]

It's part of this strange double standard we have for spies - their guys are liars, our guys are cunning. Once upon a time "our" meant "our country". Today it seems to mean "our values". I think that's an improvement.

And to be honest I think Chancellor Merkel, who by all definitions should be cynical as hell, was genuinely shocked by the Stasi like extent of PRISM et al. So I think Snowden did reveal, in convincing ways, that the NSA had gone far far beyond what many thought practical and most thought sane. No matter how cynical a business leader you might be a small part of you thought "everyone" did not really mean everyone till Snowden